This controversial and colorful figure was characterized in newspapers and journals of his day as a notorious gunman and religious zealot. Quoted in harold schindler, orrin porter rockwell, man of god, son of thunder, 80. A colorful personality baptized in 1830, rockwell was charged by missourians with assault with intent to kill exgovernor lilburn w. His daughter helped prepare his body for burial and found bullet holes in his vest, but no bullet injuries to his body. Oct 17, 20 mormon president porter rockwell porterrockwellfanclub. Although porter was eight years younger than the prophet, a bond of friendship between the two was quickly formed. Joseph smiths personal bodyguard, orrin porter rockwell would be known for. While jospeh smith was translating the book of mormon and preparing the manuscript for publishing, rockwell worked picking berries and hauling wood to help pay for its printing. Porter rockwell known as the destroying angel, orin porter rockwell was born on june 28, 18 in belchertown, hampshire county, massachusetts, to orin and sarah.
Porter rockwell mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. Orrin porter rockwell became affiliated with the new religious movement shortly after the mormons were forced to flee from zion and independence county in missouri. Porter rockwell is featured for a few brief moments by actor richard clarke larsen, although im not sure how good an actor he is since. In its first edition after orrin porter rockwells fatal heart attack in 1878, the salt lake tribune then a virulently antimormon newspaper ran the headline, porter rockwell the chief of the danite band shuffles off in a stable and cheats the hangman of a worthy candidate. Duaine hiatt, this people magazine the writing is slick and the pace is fast. After reading porter rockwells biography by richard lloyd dewey i was of course curious what this book would say about my personal hero orrin porter rockwell.
Rock, paper, scissors is a classic game that was primed and ripe for the mormon picking. Religion and gunfireit worked for the boondock saints, but one man, porter rockwell, made this combination a reality during the 1800s. Deputy marshall west of the mississippi and the bodyguard to the. Jun 30, 2015 porter rockwell was a lawman and a bodyguard to joseph smith and brigham young.
Apr 15, 2016 orrin porter rockwell was a childhood friend of mormon leader joseph smith. New book, dvd focus on lds and old west icon porter rockwell. When joseph was working to publish the book of mormon, porter worked day and night. Orrin porter rockwell opr was a young friend of the prophet joseph smith, first prophet of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints lds who organized the lds church in 1830.
The legend of this man stands at the pinnacle of mormon folklore. When there were no berries to pick, he gathered wood and hauled it to town to sell. Orrin porter rockwell goodreads meet your next favorite book. When just a boy, porter picked berries, and sold them, to do his part in paying for the publishing of the book of mormon. Porter rockwell is featured for a few brief moments by actor richard clarke larsen, although im not sure how good an actor he is. They settled near the town of palmyra about a mile. When an attempt was made on the life of lilburn boggs, local law enforcement expected rockwells involvement. In 1817, due to several years of crop failure, the rockwell family sold their farm in massachusetts and moved to upstate new york.
Porter rockwells association and lifelong friendship with the prophet jospeh smith began as neighbors when rockwell was a child. Porter rockwell wanted poster latter day saint art. I enjoyed learning more about the history of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints and about this unforgettable character in the beginnings of the pioneer history of the church. Dec 05, 2017 we will discuss porter rockwell, john d. Did porter rockwell admit to shooting lilburn boggs. The author does not tell us that his source, schindler, was criticized for giving credence to anti mormon sources on this issue. Orrin porter rockwell june 28, 18 or june 25, 1815 june 9, 1878 was a figure of the wild west period of american history as well as a mormon and a law man in the utah territory.
Cowboys sang songs about him, and newspapers had frequently printed scandalous. Almost anyone who has heard anything about mormon history has heard of porter rockwell. In 1997 the utah board of education and byu public school partnership banded together to form. The author does not tell us that his source, schindler, was criticized for giving credence to antimormon sources on this issue. Porter rockwell sawn pistol w poster nauvoo mercantile. Porter rockwell manuscript collection descriptions hbll. When orrin porter rockwell died of a heart attack in 1878, his name was as well known as brigham youngs. Although eight years younger than joseph smith, porter and joseph were childhood friends. The porter rockwell experience can be many things to many people. While smith was publishing the book of mormon, rockwell picked berries at night and hauled wood into town to help pay for the. It always bothered me that he played such a unique role in church history but that he is virtually never mentioned. Orrin porter rockwell became affiliated with the new religious movement shortly after the mormons were forced to flee from zion and independence. I have even read a few hard to find books on porter rockwell including porter rockwell the mormon frontier marshal by nicholas van alfren. I enjoyed learning more about the history of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints and about.
But to many, rockwell was a guardian angel, and it could be easily said he saved far more lives than he took. Angelo baca, porter rockwell and samuel the lamanite fistfight. When orrin porter rockwell died of a heart attack in 1878, his name was as well. This controversial and colorful figure was characterized in newspapers and journals of his day. At sunup, the situation quickly escalated into a standoff. Rockwell was around age seven when joseph smith experienced his first vision, and lived. See more ideas about porter rockwell, old west and church history. Following smith to new york, the rockwell family would become some of the earliest members of the latter day saint movement, with porter being baptized in the church on the day. An ardent mormon, rockwell resorted to violent means to. This book describes his role as bodyguard to smith, then brigham young. See more ideas about porter rockwell, old west and mormon pioneers. Stories from the life of porter rockwell deseret book. In spite of his rough reputation, he was a faithful and devout man, as stated in the mormon channels. In 1830, at 16years old, rockwell was baptized into the church of christ original name of the church founded by smith in fayette, new york.
He was baptized into the church of jesus christ of latterday saints in 1830, and married luana beebe on february 2, 1832 in jackson county, missouri. O rrin porter rockwell was a frontiersman, utah pioneer and plainsman, and reputed mormon destroying angel. The prophet left behind a testimonial concerning his friend, porter rockwell, there is a numerous host of faithful souls, whose names i could wish to record in the book of the law of the lord. Man of god, son of thunder, by harold schindler, 1966, p. Porter rockwell s association and lifelong friendship with the prophet jospeh smith began as neighbors when rockwell was a child.
Orrin porter rockwell was born june 28 18 in hampshire county massachusetts. On april 6, 1830, the 16 year old became the youngest member of the church, being part of the first group baptized the day the church was organized. Rockwell, who coauthored the new book stories from the life of porter rockwell with jerry borrowman both men signed copies at a promotional event in lehi on wednesday said he remembers. While smith was publishing the book of mormon, rockwell picked berries at night and hauled wood into town to help pay for the publishing. John rockwell and jerry borrowman, authors of stories of from the. Later, when joseph needed money to publish the book of mormon, porter picked.
Porter, as he was known, grew up on a neighboring farm to joseph smith, the boy w. Porter rockwell known as the destroying angel, orin porter rockwell was born on june 28, 18 in belchertown, hampshire county, massachusetts, to orin and sarah rockwell. Porter rockwell john d lee, bill hickman, brigham young. Angelo baca, porter rockwell and samuel the lamanite fistfight in heaven. Later, when joseph needed money to publish the book of mormon, porter picked berries by moonlight. For those of you unfamiliar with porter rockwell, he was a badass gunslinger and bodyguard for the prophet. In 1997 the utah board of education and byu public school partnership banded together to form heritage gateways, the official sesquicentennial celebration of the famed mormon pioneer exodus to utah. Journalistic, fastflowing writing sweeps you through explosive early mormon history with charm and style. His parents were neighbors of the smith family in massachusetts, and when smith needed funds to publish the book of mormon, rockwell sold berries and wood to help out.
After reading porter rockwell biography i was of course curious what this book would say about my personal hero orrin porter rockwell. A biography by richard lloyd dewey was a very good book. It tells of his adventures as the lds lawman in the settlement of utah by the saints. Porter rockwell destroying angel of mormondom legends of. Rockwell and jerry borrowman, called stories from the life of porter rockwell seeks to separate fact from myth. Not long ago i came across a drawing and a report written by a fourth grader about porter rockwell. I felt like the author wrote this book from a completely nonbias point of view despite being a member of the mormon church.
The life of porter rockwell lifeandlegacyofporterrockwell. In its first edition after orrin porter rockwells fatal heart attack in 1878, the salt lake tribune then a virulently antimormon newspaper ran the headline, porter rockwell the chief of. Porter rockwell was a lawman and a bodyguard to joseph smith and brigham young. Orrin porter rockwell danite, man of god, son of thunder. In spite of his rough reputation, he was a faithful and devout man, as stated in the mormon channels discussion of stories from the life of porter rockwell by rockwell and borrowman. He was baptized on the day the church was organized, the youngest of the group, at just 16 years old. A good book overall, but falls short of the purpose as a biography of porter rockwell.
Orrin porter rockwell 181878 was eight years younger than joseph smith. The best book of several written on porter rockwell. It skips over parts of stories about porter and retells mostly church history stories with some references to porter. Opr was mildmannered and softspoken until, living in missouri, he witnessed the havoc wreaked upon the saints by their nonsaint neighbors. Orrin porter rockwell biography the joseph smith papers. When just a boy, porter picked berries, and sold them, to do his part in paying for the. Orrin porter rockwell circa 1866, photograph by edward martin church history library, salt lake city. The gunslinging general authority who went to prison on. Orrin porter rockwell was a colorful personality in the history of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints.
Orrin porter rockwell the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Lot huntington tried taking on porter rockwell and ended up shot clean through the heart. Cowboys sang songs about him, and newspapers had frequently printed scandalous accounts about the malicious mormon destroying angel. After hearing rockwells story, joseph smith made a samsonlike prophecy.
Following smith to new york, the rockwell family would become some of the earliest members of the latter day saint movement, with porter being baptized in the church on the day it was founded in april of 1830. It always bothered me that he played such a unique role in. Orrin porter rockwell was born june 28, 18 in belchertown, hampshire county, massachusetts to orrin and sarah rockwell, neighbors to the smith family. After reading porter rockwell s biography by richard lloyd dewey i was of course curious what this book would say about my personal hero orrin porter rockwell. I will mention, therefore, only a few of them as emblematic of those who are too numerous to be written. It is estimated he participated in at least a hundred murders for the church, none of which he ever divulged. The son of thunder, porter rockwell, became a hero of mine when i read the book stories from the life of porter rockwell and then his biography. It had to be mormonized, so heres what weve come up with. God and guns based on an original screenplay, rockwell.
Porter rockwell destroying angel of mormondom legends. May 25, 2014 fascinated by the fictional character i did some online research of the 19 th century rockwell who was known as porter rockwell. Despite his nononsense demeanor and shady past, porter rockwell was a faithful member of the church until the day he died. Mormon president porter rockwell porterrockwellfanclub. I felt like the author wrote this book from a completely nonbias. Sep 06, 2010 i have read basically every book that i could get my hands on about porter rockwell from the richard lloyd dewey 4 book series to deweys biography on rockwell.
Fascinated by the fictional character i did some online research of the 19 th century rockwell who was known as porter rockwell. Mormon church founder joseph smith, jrs personal bodyguard, orrin porter rockwell would be known for his loyalty and generosity, as much as his tenacity and ruthlessness as a lawman in utah because. While jospeh smith was translating the book of mormon and preparing. I have read basically every book that i could get my hands on about porter rockwell from the richard lloyd dewey 4 book series to deweys biography on rockwell. Porter rockwell bodyguard, mountain man, pioneer, friend. There has been a ton written about rockwell, most of it sensationalized for book sales or for criticism of the mormon church. Baptized a mormon on the day the church was organized in 1830 h e was a personal bodyguard for founder, joseph smith, and brigham young.
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